Featured letter: Elect balanced thinkers instead of partisan robots

This artwork by Kevin Kreneck relates to the constant battling between political parties.

What is the public's expectations for both our national and state legislators? Do people really want party-bound robots whose underlying interest is to maintain their party's power, or informed thinkers who vote for what they know is right - both for today's constituents and future generations?

The latter choice would require voters to cross party lines because they know it's the right thing to do. One party can't be 100 percent right on all subjects.

The party dominance of the legislative process at both the federal and state levels is very telling. Since the Depression, Democrats have held federal control 75 percent of the time. And in New Jersey since the early 1960s, they have had 80 percent control.

This long-term trend should be indicative of a government producing superior results. Otherwise, why would voters allow such dominance by one party?

Pick an important subject - the debt. By any metric, we're sticking it to future generations. In the latest national budget, we will spend $220 billion to service our indebtedness. You could operate all of New Jersey for seven years on that number with money left over.

Rather than confront overarching subjects like entitlement reform, Abbott spending, community consolidation via shared services, and debt, we are distracted to believe that niche issues like school bullying, same-sex marriage, legalizing marijuana, banning beach smoking (and the list goes on and on) are of equal importance.

The current national and state political dysfunction is the result of an evolution away from balanced thinkers in favor of spineless robots. We have become a divided society whose extreme edges are driving us even further apart. Full disclosure: I'm a lifelong independent voter seeking balanced thinkers.

Rick Margin

Brick

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Featured letter: Elect balanced thinkers instead of partisan robots

What is the public's expectations for both our national and state legislators? Do people really want party-bound robots whose underlying interest is to maintain their party's power, or informed

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